Chapter 132: You Like Her?
Caroline Whitman was driving when she received a notice and had to make an impromptu detour to a hotel for a business event.
To her surprise, she saw Ethan Xavier, Vincent Fuller, and Chase Ford there.
She was taken aback for a moment. ’Ethan Xavier knows them?’
But she quickly recalled that all three of them had gone to the same high school as her.
’So it’s not impossible that they all know each other.’
Besides, she now remembered that Ethan Xavier had also been at Chase Ford’s engagement party.
What was more surprising, however, was seeing Vincent Fuller and Chase Ford together in the same place.
’Could Lily Young’s gossip have been fake?’
She glanced over for a moment before looking away, but as she did, Ethan Xavier turned and caught her gaze.
The fresh, innocent face from his high school memories had shed its immaturity. Her features were now cool and elegant, her figure slender and graceful. She stood out in the crowd, a sight one couldn’t easily look away from.
Every time he saw her, he was stunned all over again.
Spotting Caroline Whitman, Ethan Xavier’s eyes lit up. He walked over to her, extending a hand. "Long time no see, Caroline."
Caroline Whitman returned his handshake with a professional smile. "Not that long. I believe we just saw each other a few days ago."
Ethan Xavier withdrew his hand, his fingertips still savoring its soft touch. He raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Only a few days? To me, it felt like an eternity."
Caroline Whitman’s smile stiffened. She couldn’t resist a blunt comeback. "You spent a few years abroad, so how did you end up so greasy?"
Ethan Xavier looked hurt and turned to Chase Ford. "For real? Am I that greasy?"
Chase Ford chuckled. "Well, if I were a woman, a line like that would probably make me lose my appetite."
Ethan Xavier turned back to Caroline Whitman. "In that case, just pretend I never said that."
"By the way," Ethan Xavier said teasingly, "I heard you’re also getting into the new energy sector. I guess it wasn’t the industry you disliked, just my abilities."
’Obviously. If I have to choose between you and Adrian Grant, I’m choosing Adrian Grant every time.’
Of course, she couldn’t say that out loud.
Caroline Whitman beamed. "You must be joking, President Xavier. Are you trying to trap me with your words? I never thought anything of the sort."
’I didn’t know he was acquainted with Vincent Fuller and the others. Now that I do, it’s even more suspicious. For him to bring such a lucrative project to me right after returning to the country, instead of collaborating with more powerful partners? Even my own brother wouldn’t be so generous.’
Caroline Whitman wasn’t overly ambitious, but she was extremely cautious.
She didn’t have extravagant hopes for what the Whitman Group could achieve, but she wasn’t about to jeopardize her business for a foreign company she barely knew.
"Besides, with your capabilities, President Xavier, you shouldn’t be short of partners."
Ethan Xavier watched her with great interest. She was right; he wasn’t short on offers for collaboration at all.
’The only reason I came to her first was to use this as a chance to get closer.’
’Who would have thought she’d just shut the door in my face?’
He changed tactics. "There’s an alumni mixer for St. Hector’s High School the day after tomorrow. Our old classmates will be there. I noticed you’re not in our class group chat, so I’ll add you. Then I can pick you up, and we’ll go together."
Caroline Whitman smiled. ’This guy is so baffling,’ she thought, ’and pushy.’
’We were only deskmates for one semester,’ she thought. ’We’re not that close.’
’Not to mention we haven’t spoken at all in years. The fact that I’m even smiling at him is me being polite.’
Caroline Whitman’s smile vanished. "I don’t believe I agreed to attend any mixer with you."
Having dealt with Caroline Whitman before, Chase Ford sensed the awkwardness and quickly stepped in to defuse the situation. "Miss Whitman isn’t one for big gatherings, Ethan. I think you should stop pressuring her."
Ethan Xavier hadn’t expected that Caroline Whitman hadn’t changed one bit.
Back when they were deskmates, she’d always been aloof. She never liked joining in on things and never participated in school events like arts festivals or sports meets.
After graduation, she had quietly deleted all her classmates’ contact information, which sparked a lot of discussion in the group chat.
Ever since people found out she had founded the Whitman Group, many classmates had snidely commented in the group chat that she must look down on them now.
It wasn’t entirely surprising that people thought that way.
After interacting with her since his return, he found that Caroline Whitman was indeed every bit as cold as they said.
The corner of his mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.
’The harder the challenge, the stronger the desire to conquer it, right?’
Now understanding her personality better, Ethan Xavier decided to feign a retreat. "You’re right. I didn’t consider your feelings. My apologies."
"Mm. I hope that in the future, President Xavier, you can curb your habit of making decisions for other people."
Caroline Whitman’s gaze shifted, and she happened to spot one of her investors. She used it as an excuse to leave. "Well, I won’t disturb you any longer."
’It’s a good thing I don’t need him for anything work-related,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to walk away so freely.’
After she walked away, Chase Ford finally looked away from her and gave a scornful smile. "You like her?"
"’Like her?’" Ethan Xavier scoffed. "I didn’t think much of her when I was abroad, but after meeting her a few times since I got back... I’ve realized she’s an interesting woman."
’I wouldn’t call it ’like.’’
’To be honest, I did have a bit of a thing for her during our last semester of senior year.’
’Back then, I just thought my deskmate was a bit cool and proud. To put it bluntly, she was antisocial, a real maverick.’
’But when I asked her out after graduation, she turned me down.’
After he went abroad, he forgot all about it.
But the people in their senior year group chat were always talking about Caroline Whitman.
He saw her name so often that he naturally started paying attention.
She had changed so much since she was a girl.
He discovered after coming back that while Caroline Whitman had become more tactful, that air she had of keeping everyone at arm’s length hadn’t changed.
It just made her more attractive.
Chase Ford recalled his own few encounters with Caroline Whitman. ’She really is an interesting person,’ he thought.
’Too bad I’m getting married.’
However, Chase Ford glanced at Ethan Xavier and said with a faint smile:
"Based on that performance, you’ll never win her over."
"Oh, and you’re the expert?"
"I’ve dealt with her a few times since I’ve been back. At least, that’s my take on it."
The more Chase Ford insisted, the more defiant Ethan Xavier became. "Wanna bet?"
"Bet what?" Chase Ford asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Thirty percent of the profit from the Shengyuan project."
"You’ve got a big appetite," Chase Ford scoffed.
"Fine, then that prized car in your garage."
Chase Ford simply gave him a cool sidelong glance. "You really have a thing for taking what other people cherish, don’t you?"
Even while abroad, Ethan Xavier had heard bits and pieces about the romantic entanglement between Chase Ford, Vincent Fuller, and a certain woman.
He grinned roguishly. "I’m not as experienced as you in that department."
Chase Ford: "Well then, I hope you succeed."
Chloe Carson was right behind them the entire time, her back turned. She had heard every single word of their conversation.
In fact, she had also seen Caroline Whitman earlier.
She was in charge of the business conference area at this hotel.
When she’d seen Caroline Whitman, she was about to go over and say hello, but Ethan Xavier got there first.
So, Chloe Carson had stopped in her tracks and decided not to approach.
Perhaps it was because of her hotel staff uniform, but the men hadn’t paid her any mind at all.
She took out her phone and, without a moment’s hesitation, shared the latest gossip.